Ethics, Certificate
Build concrete proof of your analytical, reasoning and writing skills in areas employers increasingly value: ethics, public policy and justice. Learn directly from accomplished philosophy faculty as you complete this undergraduate certificate.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Certificate description
Ethics undergraduate certificate description
The ethics certificate program gives you a richer understanding of systematic philosophical thinking about ethics. If you are majoring in business, nursing, journalism and public administration, or if you plan to pursue a legal career, you may find training in ethics beneficial to your career goals.
The certificate program permits some flexibility regarding course selection, facilitating your particular interests.
Why earn an ethics undergraduate certificate at ASU?
Expect rigorous, systematic training in both ethical theory and its application, grounded in a school with genuine strength in ethics and applied ethics and tied to the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics.
Additional details
Beyond coursework, you can join the lively community of the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, including the Philosophy Club, which gathers weekly in the Philosophy Lounge on the Tempe campus to discuss and debate a wide range of topics. Students from every major are welcome, and each week faculty advisor and professor Thad Botham prepares a home-cooked meal for those who attend.
Courses
This undergraduate certificate includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
2026-2027 Catalog Year
The certificate requires 15 credit hours. A "C" minimum is required for all courses in the certificate, although students must maintain a 3.00 GPA in the post-baccalaureate certificate program.
| Requirement | Minimum grade | Credit hours |
|---|---|---|
|
The certificate in ethics consists of 15 credit hours. At least 12 credit hours must be upper division. At least six upper-division credit hours must be in courses offered by The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. When selecting courses, the college offering the course can be identified by viewing the course details in Class Search. All courses must be passed with a minimum grade of "C" (2.00 on a 4.00 scale). |
||
|
PHI 335 History of Ethics
or
PHI 337 Ethical Theory
(HUAD)
or
PHI 338 Metaethics
(HUAD)
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
PHI 420 is a variable topics course that may be taken more than once, with different topic titles. Only topics related to ethics will apply to the certificate.
One course outside the list of electives, and perhaps outside the PHI subject code, may be used with written approval of the director of undergraduate studies.
9 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 9 |
|
PHI 420 is a variable topics course that may be taken more than once, with different topic titles. Only topics related to ethics will apply to the certificate.
One course outside the list of electives, and perhaps outside the PHI subject code, may be used with written approval of the director of undergraduate studies.
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.
|
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Students will be able to evaluate how well different normative ethical theories such as consequentialism, deontology and virtue theory provide moral standards that dictate which (if any) actions are right and wrong or how well different metaethical theories such as realism, expressivism, relativism, nihilism, compatibilism or incompatibilism account for the meaning and truth of moral claims.
- Students will be able to apply leading ethical theories to practical ethical questions that arise in life.
Students will be able to evaluate how well different normative ethical theories such as consequentialism, deontology and virtue theory provide moral standards that dictate which (if any) actions are right and wrong or how well different metaethical theories such as realism, expressivism, relativism, nihilism, compatibilism or incompatibilism account for the meaning and truth of moral claims.Enrollment requirements
Incompatible Majors: BA in philosophy (morality, politics and law)
A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded before the completion of an undergraduate degree. A student who already holds an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.
Here are the admission and application details
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this ethics undergraduate certificate prepares you for
An undergraduate certificate can advance students' career options. Graduates are more marketable to employers when they have complemented their major program of study with this specialization in ethics. The certificate is evidence of analytical, reasoning and writing skills and competence in areas of increasing concern to employers, such as ethics, public policy and justice.
Graduates with this certificate often pursue careers in business, law, policy or politics. Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for academic or clinical positions.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies, Sch
|
COOR 4591
SHPRSadvising@asu.edu
480-965-8364
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
